Luoyang.
Xingyang Bookshop.
A’Shui held Fengfeng in her arms, basking in the sun outside the bookshop. Fengfeng’s fair cheeks were pink and plump, sleeping very contentedly in the sunlight. A’Shui gently patted and soothed her, sitting at the door gazing into the distance. Though her days passed peacefully and calmly, her heart was not at peace. The storms of the martial world were difficult to settle – Tang Lici, Liu Yan, Xiao Fu, Miss Hong… all were people she cared about. Was her own safety merely an insignificant departure, or was it an extreme form of selfishness?
“Yi wu… wu wu…” Fengfeng turned over in her arms, suddenly opened her eyes and sat up, lying against her shoulder and looking back. She gently touched Fengfeng’s soft hair and turned to look. She saw a horse cart racing through the marketplace, heading toward the direction of the National Uncle’s residence.
Recently there had been many people traveling between Bianjing and Luoyang. Though she wasn’t deliberately paying attention, she still noticed many unusual occurrences. This was already the third cart heading toward the National Uncle’s residence – who exactly was sitting inside?
“Miss, buy a book.” Someone called out in front of the door. She turned around and took a copy of the “Book of Changes” from the bookshelf for the customer. The customer buying books was handsome and elegant, well-dressed, with a long sword hanging at his waist, looking like someone from the martial world. A’Shui couldn’t help but look twice, smiling slightly: “Sir, are you from out of town?” The sword-wearing customer smiled: “My surname is Yang, called Yang Guihua, from Mount Hua. I wonder how the young lady is addressed?” A’Shui said: “This humble woman has no surname or given name. Sir may simply call me A’Shui. Recently many outsiders have come to Luoyang, so the bookshop’s business is better than usual.” Yang Guihua picked up the “Book of Changes” and flipped through it: “This is the best printing I’ve seen. Miss A’Shui is observant – recently there have indeed been more outsiders coming and going from Luoyang. I wonder if the young lady has noticed where most of them have gone?”
A’Shui’s eyes were clear: “They all seem to have gone toward East Street.” Yang Guihua cupped his hands: “Thank you, miss.” Having said this, he gently placed an ingot of silver on the counter and left with his sword. She stared at Yang Guihua’s retreating figure. She had originally wanted to ask this sword-bearing person about what was going to happen between Luoyang and Bianjing, but unexpectedly this person had also come to gather information. A vague worry stirred in her heart as her gaze turned to the silver on the counter.
Paying an ingot of silver was not a price an ordinary passerby could afford. She turned over the silver ingot – underneath was a clear official seal. This was government silver. The person just now was not from the martial world, but from the government. Why would a government person dress up like a traveling scholar? His use of government silver – was it a subtle show of force?
Something was definitely about to happen. She stood up holding Fengfeng, pondered for a long time, then slowly walked toward East Street.
National Uncle’s Residence.
A horse cart raced up and stopped before the magnificent National Uncle’s residence. A person lifted the curtain and stepped down – snow-white cloud-patterned embroidered shoes touching the ground. The shoes were new, making the ground appear even more gray and dirty by contrast. The red-clothed servant at the gate was stunned upon seeing the person, crying out: “Young Master!” The person who got down from the cart wore all white with a full head of silver hair – it was Tang Lici. The red-clothed servant threw down the broom in his hands, turned and rushed into the residence: “Master! Master! Young Master has returned! Returned, returned, safe and sound! Please come out quickly to see!”
The residence erupted in commotion. Tang Weiqian rushed out with a group of household servants. Seeing Tang Lici standing in the courtyard, Tang Weiqian burst into curses: “You still know to come back? Didn’t I hear you were dead? How are you still alive and kicking? I’ll beat you for running around everywhere without sending even a message home, you fox demon!” He raised his hand to strike: “I’ll beat you to death! Beat you to death and see how many times you can resurrect! Where have you been for most of half a year? Do you still have this home in your eyes? Do you still have me? Ah?” Tang Lici maintained a respectful posture, meekly allowing Tang Weiqian to pummel him with fists until Tang Weiqian was tired from beating. He supported his gasping adoptive father and slightly raised his sleeve to the surrounding crowd: “Everyone, please.” The servants, seeing Tang Lici had returned, dared not say a word and hurriedly withdrew, letting Tang Lici help Tang Weiqian back to the guest hall.
“Where exactly did you run off to?” Tang Weiqian sat down in the guest hall, accepted a cup of tea Tang Lici offered, took a sip, and his temper calmed slightly. “Half a year without any news, and people even said you were dead – really… really absolutely ridiculous! Have you thought about your status? Have you thought about how others will view me, view Consort Yun, when you act recklessly and spend money carelessly outside? You… you’re not a child anymore, wandering around and causing trouble all day. Besides making money, what else can you do?” Tang Lici responded with “yes” and gently rubbed Tang Weiqian’s back, saying softly: “Foster father, don’t worry too much. Your child was doing well outside.” Tang Weiqian flew into a rage: “Who’s worried about you? Weren’t you dead? Why didn’t you die? Why aren’t you dead yet?” He angrily pointed at Tang Lici’s nose and threw his sleeve forcefully: “Come see me again when you’re dead!” Having said this, he slammed the table and left without looking back. Tang Lici picked up his own tea from the table, took a light sip, gently placed the bowl down with a soft clink, looked at the ground, completely serene.
A twelve or thirteen-year-old servant boy timidly approached Tang Lici: “Young… Young Master…” Tang Lici turned around and smiled warmly: “Yuan’er.” The little servant nodded: “Young Master…” Tang Lici pulled him closer and touched his head, just as he often stroked Fengfeng’s head: “What is it?” Yuan’er’s eyes immediately reddened: “Master… Master scolded me.” Tang Lici patted his head: “Master often scolds me too. It doesn’t matter – he scolds you because he cares about you.” Yuan’er nodded, choking up: “Yuan’er understands, but… but Master scolded me for not being allowed to send messages to Young Master… Master is ill, very seriously ill. The doctor said he only has… only has half a year left to live.” Tang Lici was slightly shaken: “What illness?” Yuan’er pointed to his chest: “Master has a tumor in his chest that causes great pain.” Tang Lici pulled him close and patted his back: “Good child, you were right to tell me this. Don’t be afraid, it’s nothing.” Yuan’er’s eyes filled with tears: “Young Master, will you cure Master?” Tang Lici smiled slightly: “Of course. Don’t be afraid, go do what you need to do.” Yuan’er responded and ran a few steps, then turned back: “Young Master…” Tang Lici picked up his teacup, his jade-like fingers lightly tracing the blue-green pine and cypress patterns on the porcelain surface: “What is it?” Yuan’er hesitated: “I heard that Consort Yun is also ill…” Tang Lici’s brow furrowed slightly: “I understand.” Yuan’er withdrew. He took a sip of tea and sighed softly.